Chapter 1966: Beginning the Expedition

"Joke! I'll hold your brain as collateral for now; I'll give it back later, okay?"

Ye Liuyun asked back.

"So what will you do?"

Kong Jiaxiang also asked back helplessly.

"Let's sign a Divine Soul Contract!"

Ye Liuyun said, releasing his soul outright, surged into the Grand Elder's Sea of Consciousness, and lawfully implanted a Slave Seal and conducted a Soul Search to learn the Kong family's information and secrets.

Then he continued: "Pay me whatever you have now; the rest, when I return, deliver it to the City of Death."

"Alright!"

Kong Jiaxiang pretended to be helpless and answered with a single "okay", then immediately handed all the Storage Rings to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun took the useful items and tossed the Storage Rings back to him.

Then he led the others to stand aside.

His previously domineering demeanor completely subsided; he stood aside like a Mercenary, waiting for orders.

At this moment, the Grand Elder also received Ye Liuyun's instruction, telling him to persuade Young Master Sword to continue exploring Yellow Dragon Ridge.

So he immediately walked to Young Master Sword and asked, "Young Master Sword, you have already seen the strength of these people.

When are you ready to depart?"

Young Master Sword retorted sarcastically, "Grand Elder really is all about making money! I'm not worried about their lack of strength now; I'm worried about my own safety instead!"

At this point, Ye Liuyun interjected, assuring, "We treat others as they treat us?"

If we take your money, we'll naturally do the work for you.

You can rest assured on that.

We will definitely abide by the rules we must keep!"

"Not bad! He's a bit hot‑tempered, but the missions have never had issues!"

Kong Jiaxiang echoed in agreement.

He added, "Our Kong family has always been the ones eating this bowl of rice.

I use our Kong family's reputation as guarantee; they will never lay a hand on you."

"Then can you sign a Divine Soul Contract with me?"

Young Master Sword also asked Ye Liuyun directly.

Ye Liuyun glanced at him with utter contempt: "No need! I want to kill you; now none of you can escape!"

"Sign, I'll sign with you! Heh, Young Master Sword, he's just that stubborn, prefers the soft over the hard! Yet I dare use my soul to guarantee him!"

Kong Jiaxiang immediately followed, saying that it was actually all under Ye Liuyun's covert orders.

At this moment his heart was trembling with fear, terrified that Ye Liuyun would set him up and have him act against Young Master Sword and the others inside.

"You don't need to imagine wildly.

I have no need to act against them.

I'm only after the treasure.

In my eyes, these people aren't even worth me taking a life to kill them."

Ye Liuyun immediately used the Slave Seal to inform Kong Jiaxiang, reassuring him.

"After I emerge from Yellow Dragon Ridge, I'll go to your Kong family and make you the Clan Chief.

Prepare yourself first!"

Ye Liuyun also told Kong Jiaxiang to get ready.

"There is a Seventh Layer Martial Cultivator within the clan!"

Kong Jiaxiang whispered to Ye Liuyun.

"Don't worry! When the time comes, take me to meet him first; I have a way to handle him!"

Ye Liuyun instructed.

On Young Master Sword's side, hearing Kong Jiaxiang's certainty, he also consulted the Elder behind him via Transmission Voice.

"The stronger they are, the more beneficial it is for us.

Since Kong Jiaxiang dares to sign the contract, I think the problem isn't big.

Perhaps these people are just a bit hot‑tempered; after all, it was Tong Yuan who first provoked them."

The Elder also said, "The Kong family rose from this trade.

If the reputation is ruined, they won't need to do it anymore.

They probably wouldn't joke about such matters.

Besides, exploration is inherently mutual exploitation.

As long as we keep a slight guard on them and let them handle those dangers for us, the rest doesn't matter."

"Alright then! Since the Grand Elder has guaranteed it, we'll trust you this once.

Let's set off right now!"

Young Master Sword finally agreed.

"Fine! Then I wish you all smooth sailing!"

Kong Jiaxiang finally let out a sigh of relief.

Afterwards, Ye Liuyun and his group followed Young Master Sword away; Kong Jiaxiang sent Kong Chenglin back to the border battlefield, while he himself returned to the Kong clan to prepare for seizing the Clan Chief position.

He had entertained that thought before.

But he was powerless against a Seventh Realm Martial Cultivator.

That Martial Cultivator had always supported the incumbent Clan Chief.

Now, if Ye Liuyun can help him deal with that Martial Cultivator and hand over the Kong family to him, it would exactly suit his wishes.

As for the Slave Seal, he can just find an expert later to remove it when the chance arises.

He was still thinking that after Ye Liuyun helps him seize the Clan Chief's position, he will then figure out how to deal with the Slave Seal.

After Ye Liuyun learned his thoughts through the Slave Seal, he merely chuckled inwardly and did not expose him.

"Captain Ye, we have a map of Yellow Dragon Pass here; you should take a look first!"

At that moment, an Elder of the Profound Heaven Sect also called out to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun came over to take a look.

The map also marked the previous expedition routes and indicated where various dangers were.

After reviewing it, Ye Liuyun immediately made adjustments.

"Leave the path‑finding to us! It looks like there are quite a few dangers inside Yellow Dragon Pass!"

Ye Liuyun volunteered.

"Then we'll trouble you, Captain Ye!"

The Elder said politely.

"This is what we're supposed to do once we're paid! How should we address you, Elder?"

Ye Liuyun asked courteously.

"My surname is Song; you can call me Elder Song, or even Old Song, both are fine!"

The Elder said politely.

"Very well, Elder Song, I'll make the arrangements; if anything comes up, just give us a call!"

Ye Liuyun clasped his fists in greeting to him and then went to adjust the formation.

"The clones and Shi Yuan take the lead; watch out for ambushes.

I'll have the soldiers cover the rear!"

Ye Liuyun sent a Transmission Voice to everyone.

Shi Yuan can petrify defenses, so his defensive capability is stronger than others'.

The clones' Golden Pupil is the strongest, making the two of them ideal for scouting.

The entrance to Yellow Dragon Pass is a narrow valley.

Before the clones even entered the valley, they halted the party.

"What's wrong?"

Young Master Sword asked puzzledly.

"The vines on both sides of the valley hide many poisonous insects."

Ye Liuyun replied.

Young Master Sword and Elder Song exchanged a glance, both secretly startled.

Ye Liuyun was at the rear of the team and hadn't seen how they communicated, yet somehow he knew the situation.

Moreover, because this is the entrance, it is the only dangerous spot not marked on the map, yet they discovered it so easily.

"Then you let them go straight in?"

Young Master Sword asked, puzzled.

He saw the clones leading a Monster Beast squad straight into the valley.

These people have all practiced the Ten Thousand Poison Heart Sutra.

"They'll go clear the poisonous insects; you just wait a moment."

Ye Liuyun told Young Master Sword and the others.

The soldiers behind them also acted without Ye Liuyun's orders.

When the party stopped, they split into three groups, watching the rear and both flanks.

This scene made Young Master Sword and Elder Song admire them silently.

"Professional!"

Both thought the same in their hearts.

They also saw that those who entered the valley were not driving away the insects but using themselves as bait to trap them.

They captured the poisonous insects, drained their toxins, and then either crushed or stepped on them to death.